Manufactured tobacco products



Raymond R. Colton, 60 W. 68th St, and Irwin W. Scopp, 4 Stuyvesant Oval, both of New York, NY.

Filed Mar. 3, 1958, Ser. No. 718,485

7 Claims. (Cl. 131-47) No Drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in manufactured tobacco products.

Since earliest times, many improvements have been introduced into methods of manufacturing tobacco products. Some of these have been directed to facilitating the processing steps, and others are directed primarily to producing a product of greater acceptability to the ultimate consumer.

Smokers, whether preferring pipe, cigar, or cigarette, desire a product that delivers cool, agreeably flavored smoke, and that is dependably uniform from the first to the last smoke. Today the factor of the protection of the health of the smoker has taken on added emphasis.

The tendency of tobacco to become dry has been a matter of concern. Tobacco products that, without protection, are exposed to the air for any considerable period of time lose their moisture and freshness. The desired characteristic flavor and burning qualities of the product are thereby adversely afiected, and the nicotine content of the smoke varies from that which the smoker prefers or to which he has become accustomed.

In order to preserve the moisture and volatile substances that give any particular tobacco product its distinctive characteristics, generally referred to as flavor, one of the most widely used expedients is to protect the cigars, cigarettes, or tobacco by means of a moistureproof wrapping. However, this is not consistently satisfactory for the reason that after opening the package there begins a progressive loss of moisture and flavor. Smoking tobacco quite frequently is packaged in hermetically sealed containers, but these are subject to the same objection. Some smokers take special precautions such as keeping the tobacco in a humidor, but the majority of smokers are inclined to disregard such expedients.

Another means of preserving the qualities of tobacco, and in particular cigarette tobacco, consists in adding hygroscopic substances to the product, such as glycerol and diethylene glycol. It is an objection that substances of this character, on being subjected to burning, give rise to decomposition products that are irritating or harmful to the smoker.

In the effort to insure the smoker a cool smoking, pleasant flavored tobacco, resort has been had to various flavoring agents. Some of these are innocuous and others have been criticized as adversely affecting the health of the smoker. It is, of course, quite impossible to even begin to recount the innumerable substances that have hitherto been added to tobacco, or to discuss their possible effects in detail. However it is believed that it can be stated with assurance that none of the conventional flavoring agents in any way affect the coolness of the smoke in the sense of a detectable temperature lowering, and that most of them are quite as susceptible to loss of those voltatile substances that render them agreeable, as is the tobacco to which they are added.

The temperature of the smoke that is delivered to the smoker from cigar, cigarette or pipe, is of importance.

tes Patent Cool smoke is generally more agreeable to the smoker, and less irritating to the lips, tongue, throat and other sensitive tissues, than hot smoke. A number of factors contribute to the temperature of the tobacco smoke among which those primarily involved are the amount of moisture present in the tobacco, and the rate of burning.

It is of interest to note that the temperature of the smoke produced during the consumption of the first 3.5 cm. of a cigarette may be about 272 C. whereas that developed during the smoking of the last 0.5 cm. may reach about 52 C. A cigarette smoked comparatively slowly, i.e. for 11 minutes, may after 6.5 cm. of the cigarette is consumed deliver smoke at a temperature of up to 46 C., whereas the same brand smoked under the same conditions except that the time is reduced to 2 minutes may produce smoke at a temperature as high as C. (Koskowski, The Habit of Tobacco Smoking, 1955.)

One of the criticisms that has been directed against cigarette smoking is based on the fact that the rapid burning and high temperature of the smoke contributes to the irritating effects that may account for the incidence of physiological damage.

An objection that is quite annoying, is the tendency of cigarette paper to stick to the lips. Often a small shred of paper will be torn from the cigarette and adhere to the lips of the smoker without his becoming aware of the occurrence. The appearance thus created is unsightly. Or a tear may occur large enough to damage the cigarette and interfere with the proper drawing of the smoke, and may compel the smoker to discard the cigarette. Hitherto, in order to overcome this objectionable property of cigarette paper, resort has been had to cigarette tips formed of a material different from the cigarette paper. The so-called cork tip cigarette is an example of such expedient.

Recently, theories have been publicized associating the occurrence of carcinoma of the mouth, tongue, larynx and lungs with certain substances present in tobacco smoke, and ascribing such occurrence more particularly to cigarettes. As a consequence there has been an increase in the relative number of filter type cigarettes.

We have found that manufactured tobacco products when treated with silicones exhibit new and highly desirable characteristics as will be fully hereinafter described.

By the term, manufactured tobacco products, we refer to tobacco which has been prepared for use by the general consumer, as for example smoking or pipe tobacco, and to tobacco which has been prepared ready for incorporation in tobacco articles such as cigars and cigarettes, and to the tobacco articles, therefrom manufactured.

By the term, silicones, we refer to that class of compositions generally comprehended thereunder. Since these constitute a class of compositions of known chemical and physical characteristics, they need only briefly be described here. It is understood that the silicones, commercially available, consist of compounds that are essentially polymeric organo-silicon compounds characterized by the following elemental structure:

In the foregoing formula, which may be regarded as the building block of the silicone series, R represents an alkyl or aryl organic radical, which is frequently but not exclusively methyl or phenyl. A complete description of the silicones may be found in numerous publications. (McGregor, Silicones and Their Uses, 1954.)

In preparing manufactured tobacco products according to the present invention, we find the silicone fluids to be eminently suitable. These fluids are clear, colorless, tasteless, odorless and physiologically inert. Toxicological studies indicate that silicones are not irritating to the human skin and are harmless even in contact with the mucous membranes or taken internally. They cause no discernible ill effects when fed to test animals in doses as high as 2% of body weight. (V. K. Rowe et al., Journal of Industrial Hygiene, 3(), No. 6, pp. 332-352; 1948.) In general silicones have a low thermal conductivity in comparison with alcohols and water.

By the term siliconized as herein used, we refer to the incorporation of silicones into manufactured products.

We believe that there is a limited penetration of the sili cone into the body of the tobacco, and that much of the effect of these compositions may be accounted as the result of the surface coating. There can be no doubt that the presence of the silicone has a pronounced efiect on the moisture characteristics of the cigar, cigarette or tobacco treated thereby, and we find that escape of moisture from the tobacco under conditions of exposure to a drying atmosphere is largely prevented by the silicone barrier. It is certain that the silicones act in a manner essentially different from hygroscopic agents.

Whatever theories may be invoked to explain the action, we have found that manufactured tobacco products when suitably treated with silicones exhibit improved smoking characteristics. Among the advantages obtained there may be cited the fact that in comparison with untreated tobacco products, the siliconized products, according to the present invention, burn more slowly, produce a more flavorful smoke, contain fewer distasteful side products and more of the natural flavor of the tobacco, and that the tendency of the cigar or cigarette to become strong as it is smoked toward the butt end is notably reduced. We find further that the treatment with silicones counteracts the drying out, as of a packet of cigarettes after opening, thereby further contributing to the uniformity of smoking characteristics, and preserving the product against deterioration.

When the paper of the cigarette is treated with silicones, the tendency of the paper to stick to the lips is practically eliminated. Also, flavor contaminants from the burning of the paper, that are found objectionable by smokers, and which become especially noticeable when the paper becomes dry by exposure, are very largely dispensed with.

Further, tobacco treated with silicones can be worked more readily during the manufacturing stage, in that it stabilizes the moisture characteristics, and preserves the pliability and desired working characteristics.

No special process is necessary in order to incorporate the silicones into the tobacco products. Solvents may be employed if desired. Those skilled in. the art are familiar with various methods of incorporating additives into manufactured tobacco products. If desired the impregnation can be controlled to preferentially coat the exterior of the tobacco particles, or on the other hand to promote internal penetration.

The proportion of silicones incorporated may vary considerably but in general will run between 0.1 percent and 8 percent. We have obtained desirable results using 1 percent and 2 percent respectively based on the tobacco content.

The type of silicone added may vary widely, but in general we prefer the class of compositions known as silicone fluids. A fairly high viscosity may introduce problems of working, however we have found that silicone fluids running as high as 600 to 700 centistokes are 4 suitable. We have obtained good results using a Dow- Corning silicone fluid of centistokes.

The features which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification, however, for a better understanding of the invention, reference is now made to a typical example of a method of preparing a tobacco product according to the invention.

To blended tobaccos which have been dried to a moisture content of 12 to 13 percent there is added silicone fluid (Dow-Corning) having a viscosity of 100 centistokes (at 25 C.) in an amount of 2 percent by weight based on the weight of the tobacco. The treated tobacco then is delivered to the shredding machines and reduced to a state of subdivision suitable for cigarette manufacture. After a relatively brief storage time the shredded tobacco impregnated with the silicone is transferred to the cigarette making machines where it is fed at a controlled rate to the long strip of cigarette paper, rolled, cut to cigarette length, inspected and packed.

Having now described our invention, what we claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. A manufactured tobacco product comprising as one component thereof a tobacco composition including a silicone as an impregnant therefor, the amount of said silicone being sutficient to reduce the rate of burning of said tobacco composition.

2. A tobacco article comprising as a component thereof, tobacco material including a silicone as an impregnant therefor, the amount of said silicone being suflicient to reduce the rate of burning of said tobacco mixture.

3. A tobacco cigarette comprising as a component thereof, tobacco and a silicone impregnating said tobacco, the amount of said silicone being sufiicient to reduce the rate of burning of said tobacco.

4. A tobacco cigar, comprising as a component thereof, a silicone impregnating the tobacco of said cigar, the amount of said silicone being suificient to reduce the rate of burning of said cigar.

5. Smoking tobacco comprising as a component thereof, a silicone compound impregnating said tobacco, the amount of said silicone compound being suflicient to reduce the burning rate of said tobacco.

6. A manufactured tobacco product comprising a wrapper and a tobacco filling material within said wrapper, said filling material having a silicone incorporated therein, the amount of said silicone being sufficient to reduce the rate of burning of said tobacco filling material.

7. A tobacco cigarette comprising cigarette paper, and tobacco filling material within said paper, said filling material having a silicone incorporated therein, the amount of said silicone being suflicient to reduce the rate of burning of said tobacco filling material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 498,927 Butler June 6, 1893 636,088 Voron Oct. 31, 1899 818,150 Du Brul Apr. 17, 1906 856,030 Cavargna June 4, 1907 1,121,660 Plotkin Dec. 22, 1914 1,829,559 Gilliam Oct. 27, 1931 1,961,866 Rooker June 5, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS 500,504 Belgium Ian. 31, 1951 OTHER REFERENCES Food Engineering, February 1956. Pages 52-54. 

1. A MANUFACTURED TABACCO PRODUCT COMPRISING AS ONE COMPONENT THEREOF A TOBACCO COMPOSITION INCLUDING A SILICONE AS AN IMPREGNANT THEREFOR, THE AMOUNT OF SAID SILICONE BEING SUFFICIENT TO REDUCE THE RATE OF BURNING OF SAID TOBACCO COMPOSITION. 